Ingredient Aliases: All the Different Names for Popular Skin Care Ingredients

Ever notice how there are different names for skin care ingredients? The fact that there are four variations of “green tea extract” was reason enough for us to create this guide to the “aliases” of some of your favorite skin care ingredients. Enjoy this guide next time you can’t figure out what “ascorbyl glucosamine” is.

The most important thing about being a consumer of any product is actually knowing what you are using, asking all the right questions, and doing the proper research. Now, not everybody has time to go through a list of long, scientific names and try to decode them (at least I know I don’t), and with “naturals” being a hot word in the beauty industry these days (and considering the many varying definitions of that term), it can be hard to know what ingredients you can trust and if what it says on the front of the packaging even matches the back.

So, here is a list of some of the most common skin care ingredients that have more than one name on packaging and ingredient lists:

Oleic Acid

This acid is the best for moisturizing oily skin without giving it an unhealthy shine. But did you know that safflower oil is considered an oleic acid?

Who doesn’t love some of this amazing, brightening anti-ager? The Klairs Freshly Juiced Vitamin C Serum is my personal favorite go-to right after I cleanse to really smooth and brighten my skin. Since vitamin C does—in fact—make your skin more sensitive to sunlight, it’s important to be able to identify which products contain it. Here are some other names for vitamin C:

These days, birch juice is almost a more popular K-beauty ingredient than water. It’s so hydrating and gentle that it has become a staple in skin care. When looking out for birch juice or birch sap extract, be sure to also keep your eyes peeled for:

Last but not least: niacinamide. This form of vitamin B3 will keep your skin refreshed and brightened. It also will help your other skin care ingredients be more effective! Check out two of its other names:

Vitamin B3

Nicotinic acid

+ What are some different names for skin care ingredients that you’ve noticed? Let’s help each other out in the comments below!